SRT200
(1975) In 1975, Minolta "upgraded" the original SRT100 series to the SRT200 series. Actually, there was very little difference between the two series of cameras. Perhaps Minolta felt that the SRT100 series name was getting too old and that the public wanted something "new". After all, the early 1970's saw dramatic competition in the camera market, and other camera companies were producing "new" cameras with new names -- some with very minor changes. For example, Nikon added a hot shoe to it's Nikkormat FTN in 1975, and called it the Nikkormat FT2. In the same vein, Minolta made some minor changes to all of the Minolta SRT100 series cameras -- and the SRT200 series was born.
The SRT200 was a modified version of the SRT100. There were actually six versions of the SRT200, depending on the market, with slight variations over time. The model numbers are not inscribed on the cameras.
The first model of the SRT200 had a cold flash shoe and a focusing screen exactly like the SRT100.
The main difference was the change to a faster top speed of 1/1,000. But there were sublte
differences as well. The previous model had "MINOLTA CAMERA CO.,LTD." imprinted on the top between the
pentaprism and the rewind crank. On this model, the imprint is gone. In addition, the film plane indicator, which
had been behind the shutter speed dial (on the right), is now placed between the pentaprism and the rewind crank
(on the left). This was a smart move and makes measurements a little easier for those few people who use it. Last,
the hot shot on this model is marked with a red "X", hopefully to remind users that the "hot"
part of the shoe is only usable with X-synch, not bulbs. The SRT200 (model a) was available in black or chrome.
European version of the SRT200 (model a). This camera should not be confused with the SRT100.
In 1977, several changes were made to the SRT200 (model a). This was the same year that Minolta introduced
the first of the XD and XG cameras, and several of these features were copied directly from the XD and XG line.
Perhaps it was an attempt to make the older-styled cameras look as similar as possible to the newer cameras,
but it is just as likely that the newer parts were available -- and useable -- on the older cameras. First,
there was a switch on the SRT200 (model b) to a black, plastic aperture ring around the lens mount -- replacing
an aluminum ring.
In addition, the locking DOF button of the earlier SRT cameras was replaced with a non-locking DOF button. On the
surface, this sounds like a minor cosmetic change. But the change is more than skin deep. At the same time, Minolta
dropped the "meter off" switch which, in all previous SRT models, would automatically turn the meter
off when the DOF button was pressed (when an MC lens was attached to the camera). The purpose of this early
feature was to allow metering in "stop-down" mode with early non-MC lenses. That's why the DOF button
on Minolta SLR cameras was originally called the "stop-down-metering" button. So with this switch, Minolta
was cutting out a few cents in manufacturing costs -- and casting aside users of earlier lenses.
Yet another change to this model was that the SRT200 (model b) only had X synchronization for flash use -- the
FP option of the SRT200 (model a) was dropped.
Look for the black, plastic aperture ring around the lens mount and the microprism-only focusing screen to identify the SRT200 (model b).
The SRT200 (model b) was available in black or chrome.
European version of the SRT200 (model b). This camera should not be confused with the
SRT100.
In 1978, Minolta made important changes to the SRT200 (model b). The microprism-only focusing
screen was updated to include a split-rangefinder in the middle of the microprism circle, just like that of the
SRT202, and the cold shoe was replaced with
a hot shoe. Look for the hot shoe and the CLC marking to identify the SRT200 (model c).
The SRT200 (model c) was available in black or chrome.
European version of the SRT200 (model c). This camera should not be confused with the SRT100.
In 1979, the SRT200 saw a few more changes. First, there was a new rewind knob -- styled like
that in the XG cameras. In addition, the PC contact was no longer marked with an "X". Lastly,
one of the two internal CDS cells was dropped, so this model lacks the CLC feature common to all earlier SRT cameras.
This model can quickly be identified by the lack of the CLC marking on the front. The SRT200
(model d) was only made in chrome.
European version of the SRT200 (model d). This camera should not be confused with the SRT100.
The SRT200 was manufactured from 1975 into the 1980's, when it was dropped. Given the addition of the 1/1000 shutter speed, the split-image focusing screen, and a hot shoe, the SRT200 (especially the later models) is a perfect camera for many photographers. And if you regularly use a hand-held meter (so that viewfinder information is unimportant to you) -- or even if you don't -- the SRT200 is hard to beat. With Rokkor lenses, it provides the exact same picture quality as any of Minolta's higher priced models. Best of all, The SRT200 is still available at amazingly low prices on the used market. For a comparative look at the major features of the SRT200 models, check out MINMAN's SLR table -- the world's most complete!
With the advent of the auto-exposure cameras, and then the auto-focus cameras, Minolta saw a drop in demand for it's manual-everything cameras. Fortunately, you and I know that the more control a photographer has, the better the results will be.
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